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In a press conference held in Crawford Texas, Bush directly acknowledged the growing protest just down the road from his ranch. Before my comments, the story:

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Thursday he sympathized with a mother who lost a son in Iraq and has been leading a protest vigil near his ranch, but that he would not pull U.S. troops from Iraq now as she has demanded. "I grieve for every death," Bush said as Cindy Sheehan remained camped out about five miles away. For six days she has been demanding Bush meet with her about her son, Casey Austin Sheehan, an Army specialist killed in combat in Baghdad in April 2004. "It breaks my heart to think about a family weeping over the loss of a loved one. I understand the anguish that some feel about the death that takes place," Bush said. But, he added, "pulling the troops out would send a terrible signal to the enemy."

I haven't seen video of this yet, but I really hope these weren't prepared remarks. Because they make no sense. Sure, Sheehan is demanding that we leave Iraq. But her primary demand, the one for which she is getting noticed, is the demand that Bush give her an hour of her time. So Bush is anguished and grieving but can't spare a moment from his brush clearing to sit down and hear her out? Instead, he's going to send aides and address her indirectly through the press? From a PR standpoint that just makes no sense whatsoever. By acknowledging her, the story gets more coverage. And by refusing to talk to her, the story lives on. I'm telling you, either Rove has lost his touch or he's lost control of the White House. Or both. Because he never would have allowed Bush to say and do something this clueless before.

More:

White House officials said Bush had no plans to meet with Sheehan, saying he met with her in June 2004. National security adviser Stephen Hadley and deputy White House chief of staff Joe Hagin met her on Saturday, the day she started her vigil. Hadley told reporters on Thursday that Bush understands Sheehan's views on Iraq are deeply felt, but that "he just respectfully disagrees." The White House released a list showing Bush has held 24 meetings with 900 family members of 272 troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since January 2002. In response, Sheehan said the best way Bush can show compassion is by meeting with her and other mothers and family members gathered alongside Prairie Chapel Road in Crawford. "Our sons made the ultimate sacrifice and we want answers. All we're asking is that he sacrifice an hour out of his five-week vacation to talk to us, before the next mother loses her son in Iraq. He says he is spreading peace. How can you spread peace by killing people?" she said in a statement issued through Fenton Communications, a public relations firm.

Ouch. All they want is one hour out of his FIVE WEEK vacation. One hour. Mr President, be a man. Step up. It's one hour. ONE HOUR.

Stay tuned... according to NPR's All Things Considered, the Pres will pass by the site of her vigil on the way to a fundraiser tomorrow evening. If he can't be bothered to stop, if the money is more important that the grieving mother of a man he has called a hero...

UPDATE: Looks like Arianne has a post from Sheehan over at The Huffington Post. I would wuote from it, but you have to read the entire thing. "This is George Bush’s accountability moment." Indeed.

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